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J. F. MUNSIE. FLEXIBLE GONNEGTOR.

No. 426,200. Patented Apr. 22, 1890.

Q Vi-bnemw 5 m we. n [be Jwzayfmllnda UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES F. MUNSIE, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THOMAS LEONARDOOLES, OF SAME PLACE.

FLEXIBLE CONNECTOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 426,200, dated April22, 1890. Application filed October 30, 1839- Serial No. 328,659. N0model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES F. MU NsIE, a subject of the Queen of England,and residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in FlexibleConnectors; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact description of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in flexibleconnectors for electric circuits, and particularly to that class of saidconnectors wherein the current from a single conductor of large carryingcapacity and corresponding cross-section istransmitted through saidconnector to another conductor or to a switch-board by means of anassemblage of smaller wires whose aggregate carrying capacity is asgreat as that of the larger single wire, but which, by reason of thesmaller cross-section of the individual wires composing it, is quiteflexible, so as to adapt itself readily for use in a connector. Toinsure absolute efficiency in such connectors, it is essential that theyshould oppose no resistance to the passage of the electric current.Otherwise the connector will be subjected to danger of destruction bythe heating effect of the current. To this end the connection betweenthe sm all wires of the flexible connector and the end plates joiningthem should be of a permanent and substantial character, so that theremay be no liability of the formation of an are at said end plates, andthe connection between' the end plates themselves and the singleconductor or the switch-board to which they transmit the currentreceived should be of large capacity, so as to overcome all liability ofheating, and should be of such construction as to insure a suiiicientelectrical contact at all times.

My invention is designed to furnish a construction and arrangement ofparts realizing the advantages referred to, while at the same timeeconomical in point of manufacture and durable during long continueduse.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrative of my invention, Figure 1.represents, partly broken away and partly in section, a flexibleconnection embodying my improvements and joining or coupling up ahigh-tension-current conductor with a switch-board. Fig. 2 represents alongitudinal section taken on a plane indicated by the line 21 21 ofFig. 1.

Similar numerals of reference indicate similar parts in both figures.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates a high tension-currcnt wire, and2 a switchboard to which said wire is to be connected. 3 indicates themain body portion of the flexible connector for joining said wire andswitchboard, and consists of an insulating coating or covering of aflexible character surrounding a group or assemblage of small flexiblewires 1, whose combined cross-section and carrying capacity is at leastas great, and preferably somewhat greater, than the cross-section andcarrying capacity of the conductor 1. At their ends the wires at issuefrom the insulating covering and are spread out singly, as shown, in fanshape, and at their outer extremities are firmly held between twoclampin g-plates 5 6 of metal, good. electrical contact between thewires and said plates being assured by means of the screws 7, whichfirmly clamp and absolutely secure the spread-out wires between them.The plates are provided with spring fingers or extensions 8, adapted tobe forced into a hollow metallic casing 9 of large carrying capacity, soas to form reliable rubbing spring-contact therewith. A similar sectionor casing 10 is connected to the casing 9 by the flanges, as shown,thereby forming an inclosed space and insuring permanency of contact.

The casing 9 terminates at its outer end in a tubular projection, whichmay be either internally screw-threaded, so as to connect with theconductor 1 by cutting a screw-thread thereon, as indicated at 11; orsaid tubular projection may be longitudinally slotted, as shown at 1 1,so as to make spring-contact with the switchboard.

The metallic casing J 10 is encompassed or surrounded by aninsulating-casing, preferably of vulcanized fiber, and consisting of twoparts 12 13, firmly connected by flanges, as shown.

ICO

The mode of operation of my invention is apparent. The parts being puttogether to form the complete flexible connector, in the manner shownand described, the conductingwire 1 maybe connected to thescrew-threaded projection of one end of the flexible connector bycausing the said screw-threaded projection to cut a thread upon the endof the conductor. The split projection of the other end of the flexibleconnector may then be inserted in the switch-board opening, all as shownin Fig. 1.

It is evident that where the connector is to be used for joining twoconductors, instead of joining a conductor and switch-board, it may beat once adapted to that use by simply removing that one of the casings 9which has the split tubular projection and substituting therefor thecasing 9 which has the screwthreadedprojection. This capability enablesa single connector to be readily adapted for either purpose, as occasionmay require.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. A connector forelectric circuits, consisting of a flexible body portion 3, containing agroup or assembly of small wires spread out at their ends, end plates 56, between which the spread ends of the Wires are clamped, said endplates being provided with springfingers, a metallic casing forreceiving said vided with a tubular projection, and an insulating-casingsurrounding said metallic oasing, substantially as described.

A connector for electric circuits, consisting of a flexible body portion3, containing a group or assemblage of small wires spread out at theirends, end plates 5 6, between which the spread ends of the wires areclamped, said end plates being provided with springfingers, a two-partmetallic casing 9 10, surrounding the spread ends of the wires andreceiving the spring-fingers, and a two-partinsulating-casin gsurrounding said metallic casing, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afflx my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES F. MUNSIE. Vitnesses:

JOHN C. PENNIE, J. A. GoLDsBoRoUeH.

